Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)?

General Discussion
#1

Is PFS a form of Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
An automimmune disorder which attacks the peripheral nerves?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_in … neuropathy

On examination the patients may have weakness, and loss of deep tendon reflexes (rarely increased or normal). There may be atrophy (shrinkage) of muscles, fasciculations (twitching) and loss of sensation. Patients may have Multi-Focal Motor neuropathy, as they have no sensory loss.

The patient may present with a single cranial nerve or peripheral nerve dysfunction.

Autonomic system dysfunction can occur; in such a case, the patient would complain of orthostatic dizziness, problems with bowel and bladder functions, and cardiac problems.

Most experts consider the necessary duration of symptoms to be greater than 8 weeks for the diagnosis of CIDP to be made.

Electrodiagnostics - electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS).
In usual CIDP, the nerve conduction studies show demyelination. These findings include:

1.a reduction in nerve conduction velocities;
2.the presence of conduction block or abnormal temporal dispersion in at least one motor nerve;
3.prolonged distal latencies in at least two nerves;
4.absent F waves or prolonged minimum F wave latencies in at least two motor nerves. (In some case EMG/NCV can be normal).
Serum test to exclude other autoimmune diseases.
Spinal tap and serum test for anti-ganglioside antibodies, which are one branch of the CIDP diseases, as anti-GM1 anti-GD1a anti-GQ1b.
Sural nerve biopsy

#2

Autonomic neuropathy:

Autonomic neuropathy is a form of polyneuropathy which affects the non-voluntary, non-sensory nervous system (i.e., the autonomic nervous system) affecting mostly the internal organs such as the bladder muscles, the cardiovascular system, the digestive tract, and the genital organs. These nerves are not under a person’s conscious control and function automatically. Autonomic nerve fibers form large collections in the thorax, abdomen and pelvis outside spinal cord, however they have connections with the spinal cord and ultimately the brain. Most commonly autonomic neuropathy is seen in persons with long-standing diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2. In most but not all cases, autonomic neuropathy occurs alongside other forms of neuropathy, such as sensory neuropathy.

Autonomic neuropathy is one cause of malfunction of the autonomic nervous system, but not the only one; some conditions affecting the brain or spinal cord can also cause autonomic dysfunction, such as multiple system atrophy, and therefore cause similar symptoms to autonomic neuropathy.

The signs and symptoms of autonomic neuropathy include the following:

Urinary bladder conditions: bladder incontinence or urine retention
Gastrointestinal tract: dysphagia, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, malabsorption, fecal incontinence, gastroparesis, diarrhea, constipation
Cardiovascular system: disturbances of heart rate (tachycardia, bradycardia), orthostatic hypotension, inadequate increase of heart rate on exertion
Other areas: hypoglycemia unawareness, genital impotence, sweat disturbances

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_neuropathy

#3

Dysautonomia:
fightdysautonomia.org/Defaul … 61#testing

What is Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia refers to a disorder of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. Most physicians view dysautonomia in terms of failure of the sympathetic or parasympathetic components of the ANS, but dysautonomia involving excessive ANS activities also can occur.

Dysautonomia can be local, as in reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or generalized, as in pure autonomic failure. It can be acute and reversible, as in Guillain-Barre syndrome, or chronic and progressive.

Several common conditions such as diabetes and alcoholism can include dysautonomia.

Dysautonomia also can occur as a primary condition or in association with degenerative neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Other diseases with generalized, primary dysautonomia include multiple system atrophy and familial dysautonomia.

Hallmarks of generalized dysautonomia due to sympathetic failure are impotence (in men) and a fall in blood pressure during standing (orthostatic hypotension). Excessive sympathetic activity can present as hypertension or a rapid pulse rate.

#4

this is sort of interesting

#5

What about the fact that a lot of us have none of these symptoms and a slew of other symptoms?